Rojas And Jackson Named Big South Player of the Week

Linebacker Manny Rojas has been named this week's New Balance Big South Defensive Player of the Week and return specialist Wynton Jackson has been named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week as announced on Monday.

Rojas (R-Sr., LB, Oakdale, Pa.) led the Flames with 11 tackles in helping Liberty to an upset victory over 24th-ranked Charleston Southern, the program's first win over a nationally-ranked team since 1997. This marked the second-straight week that Rojas has tallied double figures in tackles and the 11th time in his career.

On the afternoon, Rojas and the Flames held Charleston Southern's potent offense to just 265 total offensive yards, its second lowest output of the year.

Jackson (R-Jr., WR/RS, Jacksonville, Fla.) helped the Flames regain the game's momentum midway through the second quarter as he answered a Buccaneer punt return for a touchdown with an 80 yard kickoff return for a score of his own.

This marked the second time this year that a Liberty player has returned a kickoff for a touchdown (other was a 93 yard return by Dominic Bolden at Coastal Carolina), helping Liberty move up to sixth nationally in kickoff return yardage as the Flames are averaging 24.3 yards per return through 10 games.

The Flames will be looking to close out the 2006 with their third-consecutive victory as Liberty travels to Lexington, Va., for a battle of two Blue Ridge Conference teams when they face VMI on Saturday. Kickoff for the Big South Conference game is set for 1 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Field.